Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (March 1, 2020) – The Rutgers University-Camden baseball team scored the winning run in the first game on a two-out eighth-inning error and scored four runs in the first inning of the nightcap on its way to sweeping a non-conference doubleheader over SUNY-Oneonta here Sunday.
 
The Raptors, playing a home twinbill on a cold day at the Rider University field, won the eight-inning opener, 6-5. They took a 9-4 victory in a seven-inning nightcap.
 
The doubleheader marked the season openers for the Red Dragons, while the Scarlet Raptors improved to 3-1.
 
Rutgers-Camden's updated schedule now has the Scarlet Raptors making a trip to Ursinus College Monday for a 2:30 p.m. game. The contest was changed from its originally-scheduled date and site, which had been set for Wednesday at the Maplezone Sports Institute in Aston, Pennsylvania.  
In a wild game scheduled for seven innings, the Red Dragons tied the game at 5-5 on a two-out RBI single by junior catcher John Zinko in the top of the seventh inning.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Rutgers-Camden staged its winning tally, sparked by a leadoff single from junior pinch-hitter Mike Lavenia. Sophomore Garrett Warner was inserted as a pinch-runner. He moved to second on a sacrifice by junior right fielder Rob Scanlan, who had a terrific doubleheader, including a 3-for-3 performance with a double, a sacrifice, one run and one RBI in the opening game. After an intentional walk to freshman shortstop Danny Vazquez and another walk to junior center fielder Billy Eisler, a fielder's choice cut down Warner at the plate for the second out of the inning. Sophomore designated hitter Brett Yurgin followed with a bounding ball to third that was misplayed for an error as Vazquez scored the winning run.
 
Oneonta scored a first-inning run on a pair of singles and a hit batsman, while Red Dragons senior hurler Steven Gerringer allowed only one Raptor runner on a second-inning walk over the first two innings. Scanlan broke up his brief no-hitter with a leadoff double in the third inning.
 
Rutgers-Camden took a short-lived lead with two runs in the fourth inning on two hits, a walk and an error. Junior left fielder R.J. Concepcion sparked the frame with a leadoff single and senior third baseman Matt Yanick walked. After a wild pitch, senior second baseman John Guccione grounded out to plate the tying run. One out later, Scanlan singled home the go-ahead run.
 
Two errors and three hits helped Oneonta scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead, but the Scarlet Raptors countered with their own three-run frame in the sixth, sparked by a two-out single from Scanlan. He stole second and scored on a RBI single by Vazquez, who continued to second on a throwing error by the Oneonta right fielder. Eisler followed lifting a fly ball to short right, which the right fielder dropped while battling the sun, allowing the tying run to score. Sophomore catcher Jesse Gerdes doubled home Eisler to give Rutgers-Camden a 5-4 lead. That margin stood until Oneonta tied the game with two outs in the seventh.
 
Freshman Dylan Wichrowski picked up the win with a scoreless inning in relief, walking one batter. It was his first collegiate decision.
 
In addition to Scanlan's 3-for-3 performance, Concepcion went 2-for-3 for the Scarlet Raptors. Sophomore shortstop James Zupo went 3-for-4 for Oneonta. Zupo and Zinko both had two RBIs for the Red Dragons.
   
The Scarlet Raptors struck early and often in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning on four hits, two hit batsmen, a balk and an error. Eisler and Gerdes set the table with a hit and a HBP, respectively, before Yurgin singled home the first run. After Yurgin was caught stealing, Gerdes scored on a balk, Concepcion reached on an error Yanick was hit by a pitch and Scanlan loaded the bases with an infield single. A fielder's choice by Guccione plated Concepcion and senior catcher Thomas Gosse capped the frame with a RBI double to left.
 
Oneonta bounced back with a pair of runs in the top of the second before Rutgers-Camden tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame, aided by a pair of hits and a stolen base.
 
Leading, 5-2, Raptor rookie starter Joe Kidd allowed a two-out double in the fourth inning before being relieved by senior Keith Jacobs. Jacobs worked out of the frame with a ground out and went on to pitch 2-1/3 innings, allowing two hits and two unearned runs, to pick up the victory. He struck out two.
 
Unearned runs in the fifth and sixth innings helped Oneonta inch within a 5-4 margin of the Scarlet Raptors, but Rutgers-Camden blew open the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Once again, Rutgers-Camden received plenty of help as a pair of Red Dragon hurlers combined to hit three batters in the frame. Coupled with an error and two Raptor hits – RBI singles by Gerdes and Guccione – three of the four runs were unearned.
 
Wichrowski nailed down the win for Jacobs with a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one walk and an infield single.
 
Rutgers-Camden collected 11 hits off a quartet of Oneonta pitchers, with Eisler, Gerdes and Scanlan notching two hits apiece. Scanlan went 5-for-6 in the doubleheader to raise his average to a team-leading .545 after four games.